Sorry about the brief hiatus. If you don’t like Taylor Swift, I’m sure these past three weeks have been somewhat painful for you. But alas, here I am. This week’s playlist is called “LET ME LOVE YOU” because obviously screaming at someone to let you love them and then making a playlist about them is the best way to earn their affection. Not at all stalker tendencies. I promise.

But I digress, this playlist is aptly named because all of the songs are love songs. They are all mostly acoustic but I would say that there is a good variety of styles, varying from alternative to rock. The whole playlist is pretty slow, as that is a common characteristic of romantic songs. This playlist is not ideal for when you have a crush on someone. It will give you unrealistic expectations. Trust me, I know.

I made this playlist around this time last year when I had a huge crush on one of my guy friends. I have always been a very loving person–to everyone, not just boys–and I always felt as though I somehow needed to earn my right to love someone: platonically or romantically. I thought I needed to know them well enough, or have heard their darkest secrets before I could say I loved them. And no, not that I was in love with them, that’s something completely different. Out of my frustration I made this playlist. (Should I learn better coping mechanisms? Maybe.) I had this crush, and I knew our friendship was young, but I just wanted to love him: as a friend or otherwise. At this same time I was starting to hang out with a whole new friend group and I wanted to be able to love them. I thought that it was too early in our friendship to show outward signs of love and to let other people know we were friends.

A year later and a lot has changed. Giving away love does not have to be earned. You just do it. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve known a person or how well you know them. Each and every single person on this earth is deserving of love. For all you know, there is no one else in that person’s life to give them love, so when in doubt: choose love. I can now openly say I love each and every single one of my friends. I love my classmates. I love my teachers. I love my family. I love you!

When I listen back on this playlist, I reminisce about the naivety I was plagued with just a year ago, and I am reminded that loving is the easiest thing you’ll ever do. Learn to love the little things, the big things and everything in between: from the sunset to your soulmate, love more and love more openly. Enjoy “LET ME LOVE YOU,” and remember: everyone is capable and deserving of love in all its forms.

Favorite song: Wake Me Up, Ed Sheeran

This song consists of only Sheeran’s voice and simple piano chords. The music is simple, yet tells a beautiful love story. Sheeran has a knack for writing sad songs, but surprisingly, this song is very happy. Although not upbeat it makes you think about real love and realize that it’s the little things that count the most.

Hidden gem: Oceans, MisterWives

This song is one of the few slow songs in the MisterWives repertoire, which is why I love it so much. The title is perfectly blended into the song. Long guitar leads begin to sound like waves in the ocean and as the song begins to pick up more, the same strong instrumentals remain. Lyrically, this song and most other songs by MisterWives paints a beautiful picture. Led by a female main singer, most of the MisterWives’ songs have some feminist strokes in them, and “Oceans” is no exception, making it even better.

Artist to watch for: Carly Rae Jepsen

Yeah, I said it. Carly Rae Jepsen’s 2015 masterpiece E•MO•TION is underrated. Maybe it’s because her hit single “Call Me Maybe” is what she’s most well known for. And yes, that song is bad (but you’re lying if you say you don’t jam to it). But Jepsen redeemed herself with this album and does not get enough credit where credit is due. Her lyric writing has somewhat improved since “Call Me Maybe,” although she can tend to rely on easy pop formulas in her songs, and her music style has begun to emerge as a perfect blend between pop and alternative. Jepsen’s musical ability often flies under the radar, and after her 2017 release of the single “Cut to the Feeling” any album we see from her in the coming months should be good, and Jepsen deserves recognition as a serious musician.